SSTI Flashcards
Name some protecting factors of the skin
- Dry surface
- Fatty acids
- Acidic pH (5.6)
- Renewal of epidermis (bacteria fall out)
- Low temperature (inhibits bacterial growth)
Some predisposing factors of SSTI
- High bacterial innocul
- Excessive moisture
- Reduced blood supply (hence less WBC flow)
- Presence of bacterial nutrients (e.g. diabetes)
- Poor hygiene ans sharing of personal items
What are the five ways in which SSTIs are classified?
- Severity or extent (mild vs moderate vs severe)
- Depth of infection (superficial vs deep)
- Presence/absence of discharge (purulent vs non-purulent)
- Microbiology (single pathogen or polymicrobial)
- Anatomical site (epidermis vs dermis vs hair follicles, etc.)
List the anatomical site and the type of SSTI(s) associated with it
- Epidermis: impetigo
- Dermis: Ecthyma, Erysipelas
- Hair follicles: Furuncles, Carbuncles
- SC fat: Cellulitis
- Fascia: Necrotising fasciitis
- Muscle: Myositis
The culture of skin from a patient with a severe case of impetigo contains MSSA. What is the appropriate culture-directed treatment, assuming that Cloxacillin was started 3 days prior to culture results?
PO Cloxacillin 250-500mg QDS, 4 more days (total 7 days)
What are the SIRS criteria
- Fever >38 deg C
- Hypothermia <36 deg C
- Tachycardia > 90 bpm
- Tachypnea > 20 breath/min
- Leukocytosis > 12 *10^9 /L
- Leukopenia < 4*10^9 /L
The culture of skin from a patient with Ecthyma contains S.pyogenes. What is the best culture-directed treatment, assuming that Cloxacillin was started 3 days prior to culture results?
PO Penicillin VK 250-500mg PO QDS for 4 more days
because pen VK has narrower spectrum than cloxacillin
The only condition that can be treated with topical antibiotics
Impetigo (muprocin BD for 5 days)
Oral antibiotics used for severe impetigo and ecthyma, and duration of treatment
- Cephalexin/cloxacillin
- Penicillin VK
- Clindamycin
Treatment for 7 days
Common causative organisms of Impetigo and Ecthyma
- S.aureus
2. Streps
Must a culture be obtained before treating Impetigo and Ecthyma?
Not necessary, it is usually mild and does not require hospital admission
Treatment for Impetigo
Topical Mupirocin BD for 5 days
Empirical treatment of Ecthyma for a patient with Penicillin allergy
PO Clindamycin 300mg PO QDS, 7 days
The culture of skin from a patient with a severe case of impetigo contains MSSA. What is the appropriate culture-directed treatment, assuming that Cloxacillin was started 3 days prior to culture results?
PO Cloxacillin 250-500mg QDS, 4 more days
What are the indications for adjunctive systemic antibiotics in purulent SSTIs?
- I&D: unable to drain completely, or lack response
- Extensive disease involving multiple sites
- Extremes of age
- Immunosuppressed
- Signs and sx of systemic illness
The culture of skin from a patient with Ecthyma contains S.pyogenes. What is the best culture-directed treatment, assuming that Cloxacillin was started 3 days prior to culture results?
PO Penicillin VK 250-500mg PO QDS for 4 more days
because pen VK has narrower spectrum than cloxacillin
Distinguish between Furuncles Carbuncles
- Furuncles: infection of a single hair follicle, extending through dermis
- Carbuncles: Involes a few adjacent follicles, and forms small abscess
Causative organisms for Cellulitis and Erysipelas
- S.aureus, usually causing purulent infections
- B-hemolytic Strep
- Almost always the cause of erysipelas
What are some risk factors for purulent SSTIs
- Close physical contact
- Crowded living quarters
- Sharing personal items
- Poor hygiene
The most common causative organism for purulent SSTIs
S.aureus
Main treatment for purulent SSTI
Incision & Drainage (I&D)
What is considered “Severe, non-purulent Cellulitis/erysipelas”? What are the organisms to cover?
> 2 SIRS criteria with:
- Hypotension
- Rapid progression
- Immunosuppression
- Comorbidities
Need to cover:
- streps, S. aureus, gram negs (includes P. aeruginosa)